I am considering getting a bala shark and a needle fish, could someone please tell me about whatthey require as far as space and who they get along with as far as agressiveness? Thankies!!

Hi Saiyori, and welcome to Kokos.

I'd love to tell you everything you need to know (and then some) about balas and needlefish tonight when I have more time.

In the mean time, let me know what experience you have with fish keeping, and what size tank you were looking at starting with.

Thank you for the welcome!! I am very new to fish keeping, as this will be my first personal tank, although I used to help with the family ones. I am moving into a new room within a month, so it will be a little while. As far as size goes, I am lobbying my parents for a 28 gal or bigger, but I may end up with a 12. (hope not!!!) Also I may end up with a 37, lol, but something around there. I just wanted to know their temperments, schooling, and what upkeep they needed. Thank you so much!!!!!

All those tanks sizes are way too small for balas and needlefish unfortunatly. The bala sharks will get too 12 inches and like to be in schools or at least pairs. And the needle fish will get bigger and meaner than the balas as well. You would probably need a 75-120 gallon to house them properly and safley, also because of the size you would need a good filtration system as well. Also most needlefish want feeding live food most of the time things like bugs or moths or krill or other shrimp etc.

If you got the 37 you could maybe to denison barbs? They are kind of like balas in their shape and scales but they have a bright red stripe down each side with yellow tails google them For the 12 your really looking at dwarf gouramis, tetras, maybe cories, shrimp or a betta with tetras or rasboras? If you can get the 28 you could maybe get some dwarf new world cichlids like keyholes or any of the appistogrammas? Few ideas for you there hope ive helped and sorry to tell you about them getting to big you seemed really set on them

Yea, I kinda was, but thank you, and that's why I asked beforeI bought the fish. Well, a tank that big is out of the question right now, so I will stick to the smaller pretties . I really didn't know anything about them, so thank you again!!! ummm, know anything about clown loaches ? lol.

An other big fish that can easy grow to 12 inches ive seen a few in an LFS display tanka s big as my forarm and they are deep bodied as well so thats a no im afraid lol. A good alternative to them is Zebra loaches? Stripy, same body shape, more colours same activity but only 3-4 inches They would do good in the larger of the two tanks you could get

lolol, I just can't pick the right things, can I O well, that's y im here. Thanks, what are danios like? My sis has some hatchet fish and they are silver like the balas....and they are LITTLE, lol. I probably will get something around 30, but im still not sure, just planning ahead so I know what I can choose from. Thank you!!

Hello again
Danios are quick swimming, schooling fish so need to be in a group and would really require a 30Gal.
I'm just a bit worried that you're still thinking of getting more fish. It seems clear your parents won't get you a bigger tank and your 5 goldies are in the 5.5 gal with a betta. Eeek. Or am I out of date on this post?
I answered your other thread, by the way.
Hope you can talk your Mom around

Erm, that is out of date, that will become the goldie tank if possible.

OK.